Study Finds Wage Gap is Costing Women

Cheyenne, WY (KGWN) - A new study released for Equal Pay Day shows that the gender-based wage gap affects women in nearly every corner of the country, particularly in Wyoming.

The analysis conducted by the National Partnership for Women and Families ranks the Cowboy State at the bottom.

Women working full-time in Wyoming earn an average of 64 cents for every dollar earned by men. Nationally, the average is 77 cents earned by women for every dollar earned by men.

"Men are more apt to work overtime and work longer than 40 hours a week, where women may work 35 to 38 or under 40," said Joan Evans, Director of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services. "Often times they (women) may not be engaged as much because of other obligations they may have."

The U.S. Senate is expected to consider the Paycheck Fairness Act this week, which would close loopholes in the Equal Pay Act, help to break harmful patterns of pay discrimination, and establish stronger workplace protections for women.

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